The Jam Session Returns this Week With A Jazzy - Bluesy Holiday Season [12/19/2011]

Before we talk about this week's activities, I've just gotta give you a review on the last show, Wooooooooo!!!!!!! That is all I've got to say; for all of you that missed that show, it was Pianist Robert Sanders birthday and he was definitely feeling the music along with the band and all of the great guest artists!

Trombonist Al Jones, vocalist Veronica Shepherd gave us all the Blues we could use, just returning from Las Vegas Pianist and vocalist April Spain along with guitarist Marcel Longwell, from Detroit, Michigan guitarist Mike Fageros....... Also dropping in the house, saxophonist Terrance Tony formerly of the Art Blakey group, on the Flugelhorn Kenny Easton joined in with the musical celebration. Along with all of the other guests, we had an arousing performance of Jazz on the harmonica done uniquely by Alex Kinion. Wow what an outstanding evening!!!

Now this week we start with our special Show host, Mr. Johnny Gonzales who is a great saxophonist and flute player. Johnny is a well versed horn player that performs on the tenor sax, alto sax, soprano sax and the flute. Johnny's musical beginnings started with his mentor-ship under the original "Texas Tenor" Arnett Cobb and the great altoist Jimmy Ford. He has performed and toured with Sammy Davis, Jr., Johnny Mathis and is an elite member of Houston's big Band sound, the Conrad Johnson Reunion Band.

Johnny travel the world as a member of the United States Air Force band however his sound is deeply rooted in Latin music. He is currently performing with "Universal Rhythm", a Latin Jazz Ensemble that features bassist Anibal of "El Swing" who brought you the Latin Jazz Showcase at Smitty's

We will start our "Christmas Jazz Season" with Hot Jazz and Xmas music, Look for Phyllis Causey to join the ensemble with her Xmas renditions, Anne LeSear has compiled a Xmas musical, "Ms. Claus, Jazzy and Sassy". Starting next week our film series will also include some rare and classic Xmas film footage.

We also want to encourage you to bring your holiday parties and holiday guests to Houston's best live music nite, The "Original" Monday Nite Jazz Jam!!!

.......................as a kid, It was not Christmas at my house until we heard this version of Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas Baby"!!!

Click on the blue links below for the original Classic Xmas Blues

Turn your speakers up and remember to go full screen viewing (see instructions below)
Start the movie by clicking on the photos or links below and on the bar just below the video screen, next to the time counter & volume controls, is a box with (4) arrows at the end of bar, click that box for a full screen view of the film footage and hit (ESC) to return to normal screen)

Rhythm & Blues Christmas, Charles Brown was an American blues singer and pianist whose soft-toned, slow-paced blues-style influenced the development of blues performance during the 1940s and 1950s. He had several hit recordings, including "Driftin' Blues" and "Merry Christmas Baby

...............................And I thought that I would add this live version of Charles Brown performimg his 1947 xmas hit that he performed live at a later date.